Code of Federal Regulations Title 38. Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief § 38.3.204 Evidence of dependents and age

(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, VA will accept, for the purpose of determining entitlement to benefits under laws administered by VA, the statement of a claimant as proof of marriage, dissolution of a marriage, birth of a child, or death of a dependent, provided that the statement contains:  the date (month and year) and place of the event;  the full name and relationship of the other person to the claimant;  and, where the claimant's dependent child does not reside with the claimant, the name and address of the person who has custody of the child. In addition, a claimant must provide the social security number of any dependent on whose behalf he or she is seeking benefits (see § 3.216).

(2) VA shall require the types of evidence indicated in §§ 3.205 through 3.211 where:  the claimant does not reside within a state;  the claimant's statement on its face raises a question of its validity;  the claimant's statement conflicts with other evidence of record;  or, there is a reasonable indication, in the claimant's statement or otherwise, of fraud or misrepresentation of the relationship in question.